Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs Bucheon FC 1995

After suffering early exits from the FA Cup, both Daejeon Citizen and Bucheon FC 1995 had a full week to rest ahead of the K League 2 Round 7 clash at Purple Arena this Monday night. The Purples are without a win in five but Ko Jongsoo and his team were at least able to stop the rot with a decent away draw to top of the table Gwangju FC. The Reds are also on a run of five games without a win but fell to a late, late Ansan Greeners winner last weekend.

Overview

Last Time Out

Gwangju FC 0-0 Daejeon Citizen

Last Sunday the Purples picked up a decent point away to league leaders Gwangju FC following a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Park Juwon made a number of excellent saves to keep the Yellows at bay, enough for the 28 year-old to earn a spot in the K League 2 Best 11 for Round 6.

Daejeon edged the contest in terms of possession but mustered just one shot on target in the whole 90 minutes. Gwangju, on the other hand, peppered the Daejeon goal and had six shots on target from a total of 11 - Park Juwon equal to most.

Bucheon FC 1995 1-2 Ansan Greeners
Despite taking the lead just before half time, Bucheon were undone by two late Ansan Greeners goals - extending the Reds' unbeaten run to five. On 38 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, the hosts went 1-0 up through Kim Jaewoo - the defender latched on to Moon Kihan's through ball before finding the back of the net at the near post.

However, with just six minutes of normal time remaining, Lee Injae levelled for the Greeners. The 26 year-old, who has been with the club since its inception in 2017, bundled the ball home from close range. Jang Hyeokjin's left-footed cross from the right-hand side found Lee Injae at the far post who had just the 'keeper to beat.

Just four minutes later though and the Greeners were down to 10 men, Gustavo Vintecinco with his second dismissal of the season for a high foot on compatriot Nilson Junior. The referee consulted VAR before showing the Brazilian a straight red card. However, deep into injury time, Ansan found a winner; Jang Hyeokjin and Choi Hojoo combined on the counter attack before the latter teed up Bang Chanjun. The former Gangwon forward's strike went in off the post to seal a second successive win for the Greeners.

Previous Meetings

Daejeon are unbeaten from their last three meetings with Bucheon having emerged as victors from their last encounter which was preceded by a draw and a Daejeon win in Bucheon. In November last year, with the Purples gunning for the playoffs, Ko Jongsoo's men comfortably dispatched Bucheon in a 3-0 victory - Chițu, Hwang Inbeom, and Ahn Joohyung on target that afternoon.

In August the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Bucheon, Nilson Junior and Sanzhar Tursanov scoring a spot kick apiece to see the spoils shared. However, in June, a Park Inhyeok brace gave Daejeon an impressive away win.

There have been 16 previous meetings with each team winning six times with the four remaining fixtures ended as draws. In Daejeon, the Purples have six four wins, Bucheon three and just one draw. Bucheon's last away in over Daejeon was on the opening day of the 2018 season when goals from Gong Minhyun and Willian Popp gave the Reds a 2-1 win.

Team News

For Daejeon, Ko Jongsoo should have a full squad to choose from for the visit of Bucheon this Monday. Sanzhar Tursnaov's dip in form could see the Uzbek winger drop to the bench whilst central midfielder Shin Hakyoung is one booking away from suspension.

Former Daejeon Citizen forward Kim Chanhee could line up for Bucheon. Kim, who had two spells at Purple Arena, including the 2014 K League Challenge title winning season, made the switch to Bucheon over the winter. So far this term, Kim has had to make do with just the one substitute appearance due to injury. Elsewhere, both Moon Kihan and Kim Ryundo are just a scribble in the referee's notebook away from missing the Reds's next match. Former Purples goalkeeper Lee Youngchang is expected to take his place amongst the substitutes.

The Adversary

After succumbing to their second defeat of the season last weekend against Ansan Greeners, Bucheon are a team that are in danger of letting their bright start to the season go to waste. They have not tasted victory since the second match of the season and have only managed to pick up two points in the four league matches since then. This would be a situation that would start to concern most clubs, but despite this the coach seem to have settled on a preferred line-up and formation.

The 4-1-4-1 formation has been used a lot this season, with the reason seemingly being that Bucheon’s best assets are in midfield. The use of Nilson Junior as a holding midfielder gives the defence much needed extra protection, as it has been quite prone to being ill-disciplined and making mistakes. A good example of this is the fact that before the Ansan game, five of the previous seven goals that Bucheon conceded were from penalty kicks. Bucheon will undoubtedly be happy that this run ended last weekend, but of course they would have been happier to take the points.

The other four midfielders in the formation are then used to provide the majority of the attacking play. This seems to have worked to a certain extent as the majority of Bucheon’s goals have come from midfielders, however, Bucheon would probably prefer that they also provided assists to a prolific centre-forward. This is something that Bucheon do not possess, and none of the squad’s natural attackers have scored this season. Bucheon have adapted though, and have converted 21 year-old Kim Jaewoo from a defender into a striker.

He has featured in several games this season in this position and last week it paid off as he scored to give Bucheon the lead against Ansan. While it was not enough to secure Bucheon any points, if Kim can continue to successfully grow into his new position then he could pose a threat for the other teams in the league. Daejeon will have to be wary of him and his tall 190cm frame, and if the Bucheon midfield continue to perform well with him then Bucheon could find themselves as the victors. However, in order to do that Bucheon will have to make sure Daejeon fail to exploit their defensive weaknesses.

Who To Watch

Daejeon Citizen - Park Juwon

Goalkeeper Park Juwon has been part of the first team squad at Purple Arena since 2013. In the Purples' ill-fated relegation season, Park was largely used as understudy to Kim Seongyu and Hong Sangjoon. However, in 2014, when Citizen went on to win the K League Challenge title at a canter, Park played 16 times in the league and was named in the best eleven for that season before going on to make 22 times the season after and 27 in 2016.

A two year stint with Asan Mugunghwa as part of his mandatory military service came and went before Park was able to reclaim his place between the sticks for the Purples. Park Junhyuk was Ko Jongsoo's number one goalkeeper towards the end of last season but since the former Seongnam custodian's departure to Jeonnam, and despite the return to fitness of Kim Jinyoung, Park Juwon has played every league match for Daejeon this season. Against Gwangju last Sunday, the Ansan-born stopper made number of import saves, enough to earn him a place in the K League 21 Best 11.

Bucheon FC 1995 - Song Hongmin

Midfielder Song Hongmin sent in his entry for goal of the season in five at home to Jeonnam Dragons with a sumptuous half-volley from way out. It was Song's second of the season from two starts during which Song can boast of a passing accuracy rate of 85% and 75% in terms of shots to shots on target. The 23 year-old is in his second season as a professional having joined Bucheon last season from Nambu University in Gwangju, Jeolla Province.

Prediction

Both Daejeon Citizen and Bucheon FC 1995 are without victory form their last five outings, both teams suffered early exits from the FA Cup just a couple of weeks ago despite taking the lead in their respective matches. Furthermore, both teams are in danger of letting their good work at the start of the campaign go to waste. Monday's match will be seen as a must-win by Ko Jongsoo and Song Sunho, certainly if they are to get their seasons back on track and challenge for the top four.

Daejeon's spirited performance away to Gwangju will give the former encouragement heading into this one. However, the same cannot be said for Bucheon who may still be feeling the effects of Ansan Greeners' late comeback. If Daejeon can improve in front of goal then this one should result in a narrow home win.

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